Who Else Wants To Learn Chromatic Variations Of The 2-5-1 Chord Progression

Our focus in this lesson is on chromatic variations of the 2-5-1 chord progression.

Attention: This lesson is written with the intermediate keyboardist in mind. Therefore, keyboardists who are either below or above the intermediate skill level may not really appreciate this lesson.

The 2-5-1 chord progression is one of the most important chord progressions in popular music because of its common place in prominent styles like gospel, jazz, R and B, and so on. As a result we’re dedicating this lesson to it.

A Basic Information On The 2-5-1 Chord Progression

The 2-5-1 chord progression consists of a root movement between the following tones of the scale in the major key:

2nd tone

5th tone

1st tone

So, the numbers 2, 5, and 1 are derived from the root notes in the progression. For example in the key of C major:

…D:

…is the second tone, G:

…is the fifth tone, and C:

…is the first tone.

“Check Out The Chords Associated With Each Scale Tone…”

The D minor seventh chord:

…is the chord of the 2nd tone.

The G dominant seventh chord:

…is the chord of the 5th tone.

The C major seventh chord:

…is the chord of the 1st tone.

“Using These Chords, Check Out The 2-5-1 Chord Progression…”

Chord 2 (the D minor seventh chord):

Chord 5 (the G dominant seventh chord):

Chord 1 (the C major seventh chord):

Chromatic Variations Of The 2-5-1 Chord Progression

In this segment, you’ll be learning some chromatic variations of the basic 2-5-1 chord progression. However, right before we proceed, it’s important for us to refresh our minds on the term chromatic.

A Short Note On The Term Chromatic

The term chromatic literally means colorful.

In music theory, any idea (be it a note, scale, interval, chord, or chord progression) that is foreign to a given or prevalent key.

In the key of C major:

…any note other than the scale tones in the key are said to be colorful (aka – “chromatic”).

The same thing is applicable to scales, intervals, chords, and chord progressions that contain notes that are not in the prevalent key — which is C major in this case.

So, chromatic variations of the 2-5-1 chord progression are basically other 2-5-1 chord progressions with colorful chords (aka – “chromatic chords”) that are foreign to the prevalent key.

Variation #1

Chord 2:

…is the D min(maj9) chord.

Chord 5:

…is the G dom7 [b9,#5] chord.

Chord 1:

…is the C dominant ninth chord.

Variation #2

Chord 2:

…is the D dominant ninth chord.

Chord 5:

…is the G dom7 [b9,#5] chord.

Chord 1:

…is the C major ninth chord.

Variation #3

Chord 2:

…is the D min9(b5) chord.

Chord 5:

…is the G dom7 [#9,#5] chord.

Chord 1:

…is the C dominant ninth chord.

Variation #4

Chord 2:

…is the D dominant ninth chord.

Chord 5:

…is the G dom13 [b9] chord.

Chord 1:

…is the C dominant thirteenth chord.

Variation #5

Chord 2:

…is the D dominant thirteenth [#11] chord.

Chord 5:

…is the G dom7 [#9,#5] chord.

Chord 1:

…is the C dominant thirteenth [add9] chord.

Variation #6

Chord 2:

…is the D dom7 [#9,#5] chord.

Chord 5:

…is the G dom13 chord.

Chord 1:

…is the C major ninth chord.

Variation #7

Chord 2:

…is the D dominant thirteenth chord.

Chord 5:

…is the G dom7 [b9] chord.

Chord 1:

…is the C6/9 chord.

Final Words

Using these spicy variations of the 2-5-1 chord progression, I have no doubt that your chord arsenal would explode with tons of chords. However, it is important to note that this is directly proportional to the number of keys you practice these progressions on.

Therefore, learning this progression in all twelve keys is of the greatest possible importance.

See you in the next lesson!

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Chuku Onyemachi

Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group

Onyemachi "Onye" Chuku is a Nigerian musicologist, pianist, and author. Inspired by his role model (Jermaine Griggs) who has become his mentor, what he started off as teaching musicians in his Aba-Nigeria neighborhood in April 2005 eventually morphed into an international career that has helped hundreds of thousands of musicians all around the world. Onye lives in Dubai and is currently the Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group and the music consultant of the Gospel Music Training Center, all in California, USA.

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